Tee box



' Aug. 23, 1927.

1,639,765 H. A. FISHER TEE BOX Filed Aug. 21., 1923 avwemboz Patented -Aug. 23, 1927.

PAT ENT OFFICE.

HAROLD. AJFISHER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

TEE BOX.

1 Application. filed August 21, 1923. seifiai va'e5a535.

This invention relates to golf course appurtenances. More specifically the invention relates to tee boxes, and has for one its objects to provide a novel form of tee box adaptedautomatically to maintain the sand in proper condition.

Another object is to providea tee box in which moisture is supplied to sand capillary actions] r A further object of the invention. is 'to provide a tee box comprising tacle or compartment and a sand receptacle or compartment, and in which Water is automatically supplied from the former to the latter in such quantity or atsuch rate as to impart the proper degree or" moisture to the sand. Other objects and advantages will. appear astheinventionis hereinafter disclosed. i

Referring to the drawii'igs, which "illustrate what Inow 'considera preferred form of the invention: i

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of tee box embodying theinvention. a l Fig. 2 is a plan viewof'the tee box shown in 1. r

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section and with a part of the supporting pedestal brokenaway, of a different form fthe invention. M 1

F ig l is a fragmentary (detail elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 4: shown in} Fig.3, showing the lid partially open, and illustrating a modified form of locking: means.

lVhile the inventi on Y may, assume other forms without departing irom the scope of the appended claims,, l have, to avoid surplusage 1n disclosure, illustrated but two forms of the invention, one a simple' form andthe other embodying additional,features T emanates 10 an 5 11 are in cane j alwater re'cepconstructed of i'orms oflron.

inunication with each other below the water line 16 so that water is permitted toenter the sand receptacle 11 and to rise therein throughout the entire .massfof the sand'by capillary action, but substantially no'sand enters the water receptacle 10. These functions may c'onveniently'be efiected by providing the wallof the pail 11 with a plu rality of perforations or holes 17, eachfornr ing' a water-conveying passage but preferably notsutficiently large to permit {escape of any substantial quantity of sand from the pail 11 into the basin 1 0. c 1 I have foundtha't a te-ebox constructed substantially as above described, and having itsreceptacles charged with sand and water the making of a good tee. Furthermore, the

combination of instrumentalities maintains the said mass of sand in the desired condition conducive to the formation of a good tee. The water receptacle 10also serves as a basin in which to wash golf balls to render them free. from foreign matter and more readily visible. Amonglother satisfactory materials, the receptacles 10 and 11 may be galvanized sheet or other .A form of invention in many respects preferable to that shown inpFigs, land 2, sshown in Fig. 3. In thisform of the invent on the tee box is shown rectangular 1n shape, removably mount-ed upon a suitable stander pedestal 112, and provided with a partition or intermediate wall 50" dividing thebox into, a sand receptacle or compartment 111, adapted to contain sand 113, and a water receptacle or compartmentllOn The sand receptacle and water receptacle are in communication with each other through one or more openings or rows; of openingsll? in the partition 50 and below the desired water leiielfllG, these openings being or such size .t'o,permit water to flow into the sand receptacle ,butsubstantially to prevent sand "from entering the water receptacle from :nclnd. recapteelei Mil The operation of the Fig. 3 form of invention, as thus far described, is substantially the same as the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, in Fig. 3 I have shown a now preferred one of various forms of means for automatically supplying water to the water receptacle 110 when the water in the latter drops below the level 116. This means is constructed substantially as follows.

A can or water reservoir 51 is mounted within the water ieceptacle or compartment 110, resting upon the bottom of the latter. The reservoir 51 is hermetically sealed except at the Opening 52 and a filling opening, the latter being adapted to be hermetically sealed by means of a suitable removable cap 53. A handle 5 1 may be provided on the can 51 for raising, lowering and carrying the same. 'It will be noted that the outlet openin that, w 1611 the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 8, the'upper edge of the'said opening 52 lies flush with the normal water level 116. Assuming that the reservoir 51 is filled or partially filled with water, the receptacle 111 filled with sand 118, and the water level at 116 in the receptacle 110, theop- 'eration of the form ofinvention shown in the water level.

Fi 3 may be briefly described as follows.

Water from the compartment 110 enters the sand compartment and b capillary action moistens the sand 113 above the water line to the desired degree. Atmospheric pressureupon the surface of the water in,

the compartment 110 prevents water from discharging from the reservoir 51 through the opening 52 as long as the water level in the said compartment 110 is at or above the upper edge of the said 0 ning 52, i. e. at or above the level 116. 1 hen the water in the compartment 110 drops below the level 116, water automatically flows from the reservoir 51 through the opening 52 until the water in the compartment 110 reaches the level 116, i. e. to seal the opening 52 against the air. By virtue of these provisions the Water is automatically kept at the desired level and, by providing a reservoir 51 of suitable size, the tee box is automati- Cally supplied with water for any desired length of time.

The last described tee box is shown provided with a receptacle 55, in the form of a cup or trough, for washing the golf balls. Water is automatically kept at the level 116 in this receptacle 55 by virtue of one or more openings 56 establishing communication betweenthe receptacles 55--110 below The provisions last described serve an additional function, i. e. to prevent the water level from rising too high. Obviously, if as the result of a leak in the upper part of the reservoir or con- 'tainer 51, or other cause, the 'water level rises above the top of the opening '52, water 52 is so located in the reservoir 51 will overflow the upper edge of the cup or trough 55.

The tee box last described is shown also provided with a pair of doors or lids 60, 61

hinged to the box at 62 and adapted norrnally to close but to permit access to the compartments 110 and 111 respectively. The door or lid 61 is provided with a portion 64; which projects beyond the side of the compartment 111 thereby facilitating opening of the lid 61 and entrance of the hand into the sand compartment. In order to prevent access to the compartment 110, except by the person or persons authorized or under duty to inspect the same and to refill the reservoir 51, the door may be provided with a hasp 65 adapted to receive a staple 66. secured to the tee box and adapted to receive a padlock 67. I

In order to keep each tee box supplied with water the attendant would visit the same once a week, or once a month (depending upon the capacity of the reservoir51), unlock and open the door 60, remove the container51, remove the cap 53, fill the container 51 with water, replace the cap 53. place the container in the compartment 110, and close and lock the lid 60.

In order to prevent inadvertent failure to close the lids 60 and 61, the box may be providedwith a stop member 63 suitably secured thereto. in the path of opening of the lids 60, 61 and adapted to be engaged by each of the lids before it reaches a vertical position so as to cause it to drop automatically by gravity to closed position when released. I

If desirable, a snap lock may be substituted for the elements 65, 66, 67. Thus, in Fig. 41, I have shown-the door 60 provided with a member 76 adapted toienter the lock 77 secured to the inner side of the Wall 75 of the box and adapted to be unlocked by in sertion and manipulation of the proper key in the key hole 78. \Vhen the lid 60 is released, after having been opened, it drops automatically to closed position, the member 76 automatically enters the lock 77 and locks the lid to the box; Thus, by virtue of the member 63, the lids 60, 61, are biased or urged by gravity to closed position and, by virtue of the locking devices 76, 77, the lid 60 is biased to, or automatically operated to,

locked condition.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus disclosed is only illustrative and that theinvention can'be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some of these may be altered without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention, within the scope of the appended claims, extendsto such use.

What I claim is:

1. A tee box comprising in combination, a water receptacle, a sand receptacle in communication with said water receptacle below the water level, and means comprising a water reservoir for automatically supplying water to said water receptacle when the water in the latter descends below a predetermined level.

2. A tee box comprising in combination, a water compartment, means for automatically preventing the water in said compartment from dropping below a predetermined level, and a sand compartment in communication with said water compartment below the water level.

3. A tee box comprising in combination, a

water receptacle, a sand receptacle in communication with said water receptacle be low the normal water level, and a water reservoir in communication with said water receptacle substantially at said normal water level.

4. A tee box as specified in claim 1 and provided with a receptacle for washing balls, the last mentioned receptacle being in communication with the water receptacle below the water level.

5. A tee box as specified in claim 2 and provided with a receptacle for washing balls, the last mentioned receptacle being in communication with the water compartment be. low the water level.

6. A tee boX comprising in combination, a casing having a water compartment and a sand compartment in communication with each other below the water level, a plurality of doors for permitting access to said compartments, and means for causing each of said doors to close when released. 1

7. A tee box comprising in combination, a normally inaccessible water receptacle, a sand receptacle in communication with said water receptacle below the water level and extending upwardly whereby the sand to be used in making the tees is above the level of HAROLD A. FISHER. 

